Odita Sunday 
Tears, As Izegbu’s Delta Campaign Tour Exposes Plight Of Inmates, Sick Children, Detainees
By Odita Sunday
A campaign tour across key public institutions in Delta State turned emotional and confrontational as a political figure, Hon. Chukwudi Laurence Izegbu, broke down in tears over what he described as “a system that has collapsed under the weight of injustice, neglect, and corruption.”
Izegbu, who spoke after visiting a custodial centre, a government hospital, and a police station, painted a grim picture of the conditions he encountered, declaring that many Nigerians are suffering in silence due to systemic failure.
“At the custodial centre, I met men who have spent years behind bars for offences they know nothing about. Some are there as sureties for loans they never took, others simply victims of circumstance. I wept for Nigeria,” he said.
He recounted how he joined inmates in Christian worship before interacting with detainees from his Aniocha North Local Government Area, describing their cases as a “travesty of justice” and condemning what he called frivolous prosecutions that burden the state and destroy innocent lives.
He said, “If such cases were brought before me, I would not only dismiss them, I would order the arrest of the prosecuting officers for abuse of process.”
Izegbu also raised alarm over the health conditions of inmates, noting that some suffer from dementia and other untreated illnesses, while their families are too poor to provide support.
From the correctional facility, he proceeded to a government hospital where he visited the children’s ward, describing the experience as “more harrowing.”
According to him, newborns and toddlers battling severe medical conditions, including congenital heart defects and birth-related complications, are left at the mercy of a failing healthcare system.
“Seven-day-old babies, one-month-old infants, all fighting for their lives yet their parents are being asked to pay for treatment. In a responsible nation, the government takes responsibility. Here, funds meant for healthcare disappear, while children die,” he lamented.
He further decried what he termed misplaced priorities, criticizing the culture of political spending in contrast to the neglect of essential services.
In his final stop at a police station, Izegbu said he was shocked by the number of detainees held over minor or civil matters, including a man allegedly detained for failing to pay for a ₦1,000 meal.
“Disputes that should be resolved by community elders are now criminalised and turned into avenues for extortion. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Delivering what he described as “a verdict on the nation,” Izegbu blamed the current state of affairs on failed leadership and citizens’ complicity, urging Nigerians to demand accountability and embrace change.
“Nigeria is bleeding, and no one is coming to save us. We must rise with conscience, not empty slogans, and fight for a country that works for all,” he said.
He warned that leaders who mismanage public resources would ultimately be held accountable, adding, “If there is justice after life, the burden of corrupt politicians will be heavier than that of criminals.”
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